kitchen table math, the sequel: Saxon Math Warrior

Monday, June 21, 2010

Saxon Math Warrior

from Education News:
John Saxon was hated by the math education establishment from the time he published his first algebra book in 1981. He still is, 14 years after his death in 1996. A West Point graduate with three engineering degrees, he declared war on those he blamed for creating the “disaster in American math education.” He insisted that math leaders had overseen this debacle and there was no personal accountability being demanded for the results of their radical ideology.

In John Saxon’s Story, a genius of common sense in math education, readers learn about his battles, his strong and colorful personality, and how his historically-based traditional math program made him, much to his surprise, a multimillionaire. This was in spite of high-powered and politically-connected math leaders’ efforts to destroy him.

The author, Nakonia (Niki) Hayes, is a retired math teacher and principal who used the Saxon program. She says she wrote the biography because John Saxon made a valuable and positive impact on thousands of American children. Go to Saxon Math Warrior for more information about how to order this original biography.

4 comments:

TerriW said...

This looks very interesting -- I just ordered myself a copy.

(I can't help but think every few weeks that you are so primed to write a great book on the current parent's-eye view of the math wars, Catherine.)

We don't personally use Saxon, but I absolutely respect the guy and what he tried to do.

Independent George said...

I'll second that. The Irvington revolt deserves a book of its own, though I imagine it prudent to establish some distance first. I hope you've been taking notes.

Catherine Johnson said...

Speaking of Irvington, tonight the board will undoubtedly vote through thousands more in funding for summer 'work' on Math Trailblazers. I gather we're hiring somebody from Bedford, possibly the last remaining Math Trailblazers outpost in Westchester County, to CONSULT and we're possibly grafting the bar models onto Math Trailblazers fractohoppers & such like.

Of course, the good thing about fractohoppers is that they do teach kids that fractions are a point on the number line.

Catherine Johnson said...

Hi Terri!

We saw Terri at the ktm meet-up!

Terri & Vicky S ----